200DX or 250EX?

Hi - I'm about to order a TIG setup and would like some more advice.

I plan on working with 1/4 steel and aluminum for skid plates/protection, interior builds (custom camper stuff) using 16g aluminum and stainless, gas and water tanks, etc. I'm doing this for myself and potentially for custom work for others.

I'm looking at a 200DX and 250EX (with an air-cooled torch). It seems at the moment the 200DX would fit the bill. The 250EX would give me the ability to do heavier stuff in the future, but I'm not sure if/when I might need it.

One thing I'm wondering about would be heavy usage on 3/16 aluminum. Imagine a VW Westy top done in aluminum. There would be about 300 inches of welds in such a beast. Would there be any advantage of the 250EX over the 200DX in that instance?

Thanks!
Steve

I'm no expert on those machines but, I've been welding a lot of 1/4" Alum lately (on my PP256) and I can tell you, you're not going to be happy doing that @200A...

If you plan on a lot of 1/4" alum, those extra fifty amps are nice. If you don't expect a lot of it, you can pre-heat or use a helium mix and 200 will take care of it, then.

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Originally Posted by ranchero

Hi - I'm about to order a TIG setup and would like some more advice.

I plan on working with 1/4 steel and aluminum for skid plates/protection, interior builds (custom camper stuff) using 16g aluminum and stainless, gas and water tanks, etc. I'm doing this for myself and potentially for custom work for others.

I'm looking at a 200DX and 250EX (with an air-cooled torch). It seems at the moment the 200DX would fit the bill. The 250EX would give me the ability to do heavier stuff in the future, but I'm not sure if/when I might need it.

One thing I'm wondering about would be heavy usage on 3/16 aluminum. Imagine a VW Westy top done in aluminum. There would be about 300 inches of welds in such a beast. Would there be any advantage of the 250EX over the 200DX in that instance?

Thanks!
Steve

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Regardless of your final choice,,,Doing 300 inches with a tig machine is scary,,,I would use a mig or tack weld it in a few places and use an epoxy,,,they have epoxy's that will bond anything to anything...

your gonna have a tough time holding that torch unless you have some heavy gloves.
A 17 air cooled torch will get very hot at 140amps in less then 2mins of arc time.
You will be taking lots of breaks, and distorting lots of collets.
My experience,
~John

I am with Geezer, MIG it. We did an old VW not long ago. It was a lot of welding. We did tacks with the MIG to keep the warping away. Doing a Jeep now, same deal just not a lot of long welds like the VW.

TIG will work, but if for someone else and you plan to make money, I would MIG it too.

On the other hand, 300 inches of TIG welding would constitute a LOT of helmet time and a LOT of practice, which may be the motivation.

If its for you and your anal about the stacked dimes look then tig is the way to go. If it is to make money you will need a very understanding customer when he gets the bill.

ok Fellas - thanks for the advice. Looks like it is a 250EX. Costs a few hundred bucks more but I'm sure it will do anything I would ever expect to weld.

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Originally Posted by ranchero

ok Fellas - thanks for the advice. Looks like it is a 250EX. Costs a few hundred bucks more but I'm sure it will do anything I would ever expect to weld.

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Good choice,,,,you will have a top of the line welder,,,and anybody with welding experience,,,will envy you...

But do yourself a favor now and get the water cooled torch and cooler now..

Did a 16 foot tall by 6.5 foot wide sculpture out a aluminum and really liked having the cooler..http://www.kevincaron.com/art_detail/the_seed.html

This is what it looked like when done.

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Originally Posted by Kevin Caron

But do yourself a favor now and get the water cooled torch and cooler now..

Did a 16 foot tall by 6.5 foot wide sculpture out a aluminum and really liked having the cooler..http://www.kevincaron.com/art_detail/the_seed.html

This is what it looked like when done.

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Kevin - I have to admit that you're a small part of my rationalization for a TIG welder. I'm mostly a utilitarian kind of guy and expect to use the welder for car/4x4 and building applications, but your work is truly inspiring. The fact that you let others see your process is commendable - Thank you! I am getting the water cooled torch as well. But…I'll probably just build a cooler at some point as that it the kind of thing I like to do.
Steve

Most people don't need the power of the 250EX, but so many want it. I just sold a unit to a "moonshiner" (actually he is putting together a legal still ) who will be using it to weld copper. He needs the amperage, so the EX was a good fit. He'll be using fresh cold running water for the cooler.